^ 




CONSTITUTION 




AND 



i 



BY-LAWS 



OF TILE 



|itbi?ittors' frat^tj^^ Satioiial lition 



OF 



THE UI^ITED STATES. 



( > 



PRINTED BY HOLMAN, GRAY & CO. 

Corner Centre and White Streets. 

1853. 




-a 



CONSTITUTION 



AND 



BY-LAWS 



\ 



OF THE 



fttkutan' frot^rtiire flatiottal Ittioit 



v\ 



OF THE UNITED STATES. 






HOLMAN, GRAY & CO., PRINTERS, CENTRE STREET, COR. OF WHITE. 

1853. 



-t^ 

\^'- 



ir^ambk to tk €mstMm. 



We, Inventors, Citizens of this RepnWic, believing that 
the interest of mankind are greatly enhanced by the invent- 
ive genius, are of opinion that, for their welfare as well 
as our own, it is right and proper for us to form ourselves 
into a Protective Union, by which means vie may not only 
advance our own interests, but do good to the human 
family. 

Therefore, ili our primary meetings, having put forth a 
set of principles for our rule of action, we again repeat 
ihem as the basis of our Constitution. 

Whereas, for the v/ant of consolidation, we have hereto- 
fore suffered, as Inventors, we are now determined to pro- 
tect ourselves by a system of union and harmony of action, 
to define our rights, and maintain them, by pointing out 
our wrongs and having them redressed. 

We believe that government ought to promote the good 
of all, by protecting individual interests ; and, as in the 
administration of the Patent Office, such has not always * 
been the case, we are desirous of having our rights fully 
understood by the government, so that justice may be done 
us, and our rights secured. 

We, therefore, deem it expedient that some amendments 
be made to the patent laws, whereby at least our rights are 
acknowledged. We are further of the opinion that, if a 
great brotherhood of Inventors can be established in this 



4 PREAMBLE. 

Republic, a . system of fair dealing among Inventors will 
be recognized, and no one will dare to infringe on his 
brother's right of patent, any more than he would on his 
right in any other species of property. 

We are, moreover, of the opinion that no just reason 
can be shown why the government should discriminate in 
what property a man should call his own. We believe that 
whether he procure it by the force of his genius, or the 
labor of his hands, it is equally his ; and it is unjust in any 
government to say that his right to the one shall be forever, 
and to the other only for fourteen years. We as Inventors 
only ask for what is, as we \\ivi^k.^ justly ours. 

Believing, therefore, in the justice of our cause, and 
sympathizing with each other in our wrongs, we pledge 
ourselves to stand by each other in sesuring our rights, 
and in perfecting our great system of philanthropy; for we 
are confident that it is impossible for us, as Inventors, to 
be protected, without benefiting the world, who shall have 
the advantages of our labor. We, therefore, who subscribe 
our names to the following Constitution, pledge our honor 
to be governed by it, and to stand by each other in this 
great work of progress. 



CONSTITUTION 



ARTICLE I. 

The name and title of this association shall be known 
^s, The Inventors' Protective National Union of the 
TJnited States. 

article il 

As the object of this Union is to protect the rights and 
interests of Inventors, therefore, no one but an Inventor 
"shall be eligible to membership, and shall be elected at any 
Tegular meeting of the Union, by a vote of the majority 
present. Honorary memberships may be conferred on 
'Others by a vote of the Union. 

article iil 

The grand design o'f this Union shall be the promotion 
of the general good, by the protection of individual rights 
and interests. 

article IV. 

The Union shall establish a general fund, for the pur- 
pose of assisting Inventors who may choose to ask its aid ; 
and for the protection of the Union in receiving back the 
amount of money advanced, the Board of Managers of the 
1* 



b ^ CONSTITUTION. 

same shall receive such guaranties of safety as shall to 
them appear satisfactory, whether by lien on the invention, 
or personal security, equal to the amount at risk, with an 
addition of twenty-five per cent, thereon. 

ARTICLE V. 

The Central Office of this Union shall be located in the 
city of Washington, D. C, where ready access, through its 
Officers, may be had to the Patent Office, and where our 
rights as Inventors may constantly be watched over by 
men of our own choice, and who will be bound to protect 
our interests by their 'pledge of honor ^ and the chain of 
brotherhood by which we are bound together. 

ARTICLE VL 

There shall be held annually a Fair^ under the manage- 
ment of the Board of Managers of the Union, in accordance 
with the wishes of the same, previously expressed at its 
annual meeting next preceding the Fair of Inventors' Pro- 
tective National Union of the United States. The first 
fair to be held in the city of Washington, on the 
day of 1854, the time of our first annual meeting, 

and alternating in the difierent cities or States, annually, 
thereafter. 

ARTICLE VIL 

The officers of this Society shall be a President, and one 
Vice-president from each State of this Republic ; a Trea- 
surer; Recording Secretary; Corresponding Secretary and 
Superintendent ; and the office of the President, Treasurer, 
Corresponding Secretary, and Superintendent, shall be in 
the city of Washington. 



CONSTITUTION. 



AP^TICLE VIII. 



A Committee of Finance consisting of five members shall 
be appointed, whose duty shall be to audit the books of the 
Treasurer and report thereon at the annual meeting of the 
Union. 



AE.TICLE IX. 



A Committee shall be appointed in each State to obtain 
the names of Inventors for membership, to receive admission 
fees and yearly dues, to forward the same with models and 
papers to the Central Office, together with any other duties 
they can perform for the assistance and protection of the 
members, and the good of the Union. The Vice-president 
of each State shall be Chairman of said Committee, whose 
duty it should be to enlarge it from time to time, and shall 
have power to call meetings of his Committee for the trans- 
action of any business which he may think the interest of 
the members in his State may require, subject in all cases 
to a vote of the annual meeting before being entered on the 
records of the Union in the Central Office. 



ARTICLE X. 



It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all 
meetings of the Union (if practicable) ; or, in his absence, 
one of the Vice-presidents, to call meetings of the same, when 
requested to do so by a majority of the Vice-presidents, act- 
ing as the Chairmen of the Committee of the different 
States ; to countersign all orders, or drafts of the Treasurer 
for the drawal of all moneys out of the funds of the Society, 
and to use all suitable means to forward and protect the 
Union and benefit its members* 



CONSTITUTION. 



ARTICLE XI. 



The duties of the Secretary shall be to take charge of 
the minutes of the meetings, and keep a correct record of 
the same; to be present at all meetings of the Union, if 
practicable ; to receive all moneys due the Society, and to 
pay the same to the Treasurer and receive his receipt for 
the same ; and to do such other business as may be required 
in his office. 

ARTICLE XIL 

The duties of the Corresponding Secretary shall be to 
hold all correspondence of the Union, and to keep a fair 
record of its proceedings entered on the books of the Union. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

The Superintendent of the Union shall take charge of all 
papers and models sent to the Central Office, by members 
or the local committees ; to keep them from the view of all 
but the officers who shall be appointed to examine them, 
until otherwise ordered ; to examine the Patent Office as to 
originality and patentability ; and shall make all haste 
possible to inform the Corresponding Secretary of the same, 
so that the business of the members may be speedily ter- 
minated ; and for compensation he shall receive a fee of five 
dollars for every examination thus made, to be paid by the 
Inventor, if not otherwise ordered by the Board of Man- 
agers. 

ARTICLE XIV. 

It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all moneys 
belonging to the Society, and to give a receipt to the Secre- 
tary for the same ; to deposit it, as ordered by the Board of 



CONSTITUTION. 9 

Managers, for the safe-keeping of the Union ; and to render a 
fair exhibit of his books to the Committee of Finance, an- 
nually, in time for them to make their report for the an- 
nual meeting, together with his vouchers for the moneys he 
has expended. All his deposits, checks or orders, shall be 
in the name of the Union, and his checks or orders shall be 
countersigned by the President. His books shall at all 
times be open to an examination by the Committee. 

ARTICLE XV. 

Every Inventor, a citizen of this Republic, may become 
a member of this Union, by paying five dollars admission, 
and one dollar annually, and by subscribing his name to 
this constitution, with the place of his residence, and inven- 
tion, and receiving a vote of the majority of the members at 
any regularly called meeting. Honorary membership may 
be conferred on others than Inventors, by their paying five 
dollars admission fee, and receiving a vote of a majority of 
the members present. 

ARTICLE XVI. 

The election of the Officers shall be held at the annual 
meeting, at which time all the Officers shall be elected. In 
case of the death, resignation, or removal of any of the Offi- 
cers, the Board of Managers shall fill the same office until 
the annual meeting. 

ARTICLE XVII. 

The Officers of the Union at the Central Office shall consti- 
tute a Board of Managers, and shall have power to transact 
such business as in their judgment the interest of the Union 
may demand; all of which transactions shall be submitted 



10 CONSTITUTION. 

to the annual meeting for its-approval, or rejection, before 
being entered on the records of the Union. 

ARTICLE XVIII. 

The President shall have power to call a Commit '•ee of 
competent persons, when requested by an Inventor to do so, 
to examine his invention, and they shall make a report of 
the same in duplicate, one copy to be given to the Inventor, 
the other to be entered on the books of the Union for ref- 
erence. 

ARTICLE XIX. 

All that is not expressed in this Constitution may be 
provided for in the By-Laws, hereinafter to be annexed, 
and which shall not be contrary to the Constitution. 

ARTICLE XX. 

This Constitution may be altered or amended at any 
annual meeting, by a vote of two-thirds of the members 
present, after it shall have been had under revision not less 
than three days. 

ARTICLE XXL 

Members of this Union who shall hereafter patent, and 
bring forth to the public, an original invention, shall have, 
as they justly deserve, the protection of this Union, so that 
they shall not lose the benefit of their invention by a simple 
modification of their discovery on a so-called improvement ; 
but in cases of real improvement both may be benefited by 
mutual concurrence of action, all of which this Union will 
endeavor to promote. 



CONSTITUTION. 1 1 

ARTICLE XXII. 

x\ny conduct on the part of any member of this Union 
unbecoming a gentleman, and contrary to this Constitution, 
severally or generally, as understood by a vote of the 
majority of this Union, shall subject the said member to 
reproof, suspension, or expulsion, as a majority of the 
Union may determine by a vote taken the next day after 
the motion is made to reprove^ suspend^ or expel. 

ARTICLE xxm. 

Any member judging himself aggrieved by the conduct 
of a member of this Union, shall, on stating his charge, 
together with the specifications and names of witnesses, to 
the President, cause him to appoint a Committee of Arbi- 
tration, of not less than five, chosen jointly by the parties 
two each, and these four a fifth. This Committee shall 
hear the whole case at issue, and their award shall be 
final. 



Names of Members. 

T. Gr. Clayton, Norfolk, Va. — Self-setting Kailroad 
Signs. 

Gr. B. Salmon, Elgin, 111.- -Grain and Grass-Seed Sepa- 
rator. 

Meghell Nutting, Portland, Maine. — Expanding Sash. 
L. H. Gibbs, Washington, D. C. — Revolving Gun, etc., 
etc, etc. 



12 NAMES OF MEMBERS. 

L. B. Page, Hartford, Conn. — Bee Protector, Sash 
Fastener, etc. 

Joseph B. Holmes, 49 Dey-street, N. Y. — Centripetal 
Press. 

James Lecor, St. Louis, Mo. — Submerged Corn Mill. 

Benjamin H. Otis, Syracuse, N. Y. — Otis Mortising 
Machine, etc. 

Alfred A. Parker, St. Louis, Mo. — Tobacco Plug Press- 
ing Machine. 

Sylvester Davis, Claremont, N. H. — Platform Beehive. 

J. E. Nessen; Buffalo, N. Y. — Mowing, Reaping and 
Bundling Machine. 

Hiram Sands, Washington, D. C. — Brick Machine. 

Hammond Howe, Cincinnati, — Horizontal Arch Truss 
Bridge Under Saw. 

Almeron McKenney, Clarksfield, 0. — Eccentric Lever 
Press. 

W. B. Coates, Washington, D. C. — Hemp and Corn 
Cutter and Hand-thrashing Machine. 

J. R. H. Priest, Philadelphia, Pa. — Loom Temple, etc. 

Benjamin H. Grunn, Princeton, N. J. — Machine for 
Painting, etc. 

E. B. Hutchinson, Syracuse, N. Y. 

J. B. Tellinghurst, Hammon, 0. — Churn. 

S. C. Bernell, Syracuse, N. Y. 

Clinton Rosevelt, New-York City. — Pantechna. 

Wendell Wright, '' '' —Friction Clutch. 

B. J. La Mothe, M. D. ''' " —Model R. R. Car. 



NAMES OF MEMBERS. 13 

C. Gr. Sheffield, Urbano, 0. — Improvement on Moving 
Stone Cutter. 

E. Gr. Connelly, Indianapolis, Ind. — Improved Sash, 
Lock, etc. 

Geo. Williston, Inventor of Curving Machine for Rail- 
road Iron and Straightening on the Track, Brunswick, 
Maine. 

N. "W. Cilley, Inventor of Application of Levers for 
Suspending or Hanging of Grates, Doors, Stage Scenes, 
etc., Nottingham, N. H. 

L. A. Lyon, Ohio, Honorary Member. 

A. Cottle, N. Y., '' '- 



BY-LAWS 



FOR THE GOVEPv^NMENT 



OF THE 

INVENTORS* PROTECTIVE NATIONAL UNION. 



ARTICLE I. 



The general meetings of this Union shall be held at the 
time and place of the '-' National Fair^'' under the control 
of this Union, which meeting, as to time and place, shall be 
determined at the annual meeting next preceding the said 
fair. 

ARTICLE IL 

The meeting shall be called to order by the President^ 
(or, in his absence, one of the Vice-presidents,) who shall 
preside over the deliberations of the same, keep order, 
announce the name of each member with the name of the 
State he is from, confine the speaker to the question, and 
not allow any one to interrupt the speaker. 



16 BY-LAWS. 



ARTICLE in. 



Any member may be called tg order, the member so 
doing stating the points of order : and no member shall be 
allowed to proceed until the point of order is settled. 



ARTICLE IV. 



An appeal can be taken at all times from the decisions 
of the chair, by any member who may think himself ag- 
grieved, and on its being put to the Union, a majority may 
pronounce the decision reversed. 



ARTICLE V. 



A Committee of one member from each State, shall be 
appointed at the annual meeting next preceding the Fair^ 
who shall act as Commissioner from his State, and also to 
assist the Board of Managers in the arrangement and man- 



agement of the Fair. 



ARTICLE VL 



The Salaries of the different Officers shall be regulated 
annually, by a vote of the majority of the members present. 



ARTICLE VIL 



The Salary of the President shall be, for the current 
year, one thousand dollars. 



ARTICLE VIII. 



The Salary of the Corresponding and Recording Secre- 
tary shall be, for the current year, five hundred dollars. 



BY-LAWS. 17 



ARTICLE IX. 



The Salary of the Secretary, for the current year, five 
hundred dollars. 



ARTICLE X. 



The Salary of the Treasurer, for the current year, shalL 
be four per cent, on all receipts. 



ARTICLE XL 



The Board of Managers shall have power, when the 
interests of the office require it, to employ competent per- 
sons as draughtsmen, clerks and laborers, to perform such 
extra labor as the necessitios of the office require, and 
whose services shall be paid by the Inventor. 



ARTICLE XII. 



x\.ll bills for the repayment of the Salaries of the Officers 
and other expenses of the Union shall be passed by the 
Board of Managers, and endorsed by the President, before 
they shall be paid. 



ARTICLE XIII. 



The Treasurer shall acknowledge all bills thus passed 
and endorsed, and issue his check for the payment of the 
same. 



AR,TICLE XIV. 



Honorary Membership, on conditions other than those in 
the Constitution, may be conferred on persons of note or 
distinction, when a majority of the Union by vote deem it 
to the interest of the same to do so. 



1 8 BY-LAWS. 

ARTICLE XV. 

All resolutions and motions to amend sliall be reduced to 
writing before being acted upon. 

■ ARTICLE XVI. 

When a member rises in debate he shall address the 
Union through the Chair by saying Mr. President ; he shall 
confine his remarks to the question, and no member shall 
speak more than twice on the same question without leave 
of the Union. 

ARTICLE XVIL 

V/hen the question is called for by a vote of the majority, 
all debate shall cease, and the main question shall then 
be put. 

ARTICLE XVIII. 

A motion to adjourn shall always be in order. . 

ARTICLE XIX. 

These By-Laws may be altered or amended at any an- 
nual meeting of the Union by a vote of a majority present. 

ARTICLE XX. 

All admission fees shall be paid within three months from 
the time of signing the Constitution, and any member failing 
to do so, or to pay his yearly dues during the year, shall 
be deprived of voting at all meetings of the Union, and be 
deprived of a ticket of admission free to the Exhibition, until 
his dues are paid ; and any member refusing to pay his 
dues for two years, shall cease to be a member of the 
Union. 



BY-LAWS. 19 

ARTICLE XXL 

Each Member of the Association shall be entitled to a 
free ticket of admission for himself and family during the 
season of the Fair. 

ARTICLE XXII. 

All moneys accumulated over and above the expenses of 
the Fair shall belong to the Union, and shall be deposited 
as such in safe keeping with the funds of the Union. 

ARTICLE XXIIL 

The Superintendent shall constitute a Committee for ob- 
taining patents for the members, and shall act with all pos- 
sible haste in doing so. 

T. G. CLAYTON, 

Chairman. 
Hammond Hoave, Secretary. 



Under the Constitution were elected the following 
Officers : 

Fresident, T. G. CLAYTON, Norfolk, Va. 

Treasurer, HIRAM SANDS, Washington, D. C. 

Cor. Sec. and Sup'i., L. B. PAGE, Hartford, Ct. 

Secretary, HAMMOND HOWE, Cincinnati, 0. 

And one Vice-President in each State. 



NOTICE 



Inventors are respectfully invited to associate themselves 
with this Union, and secure to themselves the honor and 
profits of their inventions, which have already been too long 
enjoyed by pirates. 

Communications relative to membership should be ad- 
dressed, postage paid, to 

HAMMOND HOWE, Rec. Secretary. 

Those relative to Patents and the Patent Office, to 

L. B. PAGE, Superintendent and Cor. Sec.^ 

Washington, D. 0. 






■-'0- 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



019 662 174 A 



